The consumption of vitamins and nutritional supplements has become a $4 billion industry. The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey taught us that 36 to 51 percent of adults, and 48 percent of children ages three to five, take supplements. Likewise, nutritional supplements, which are modified foods or food ingredients that may provide a health benefit, have invaded our grocery stores and include everything from ground flax seed to calcium-enriched orange juice.

With more than 300 manufacturers selling at least 4,000 products, how can you find the time to learn about which supplements you should be taking and the differences between brands? Your Body Repair Shop^SM, a unique concept in anti-aging and nutrition centers, can do your homework for you.

Your Body Repair Shop^SM features the top rated brands in each product category, based on independent, third party analysis. In addition to its locations in the Mall of America and Ridgedale Mall, you can get a glimpse of how this convenient concept works at the Your Body Repair Shop^SM mini-store which will be located within the Body Mind Life Expo™, to be held March 18-19, 2005 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

In addition to this hands-on product knowledge, Your Body Repair Shop^SM is bringing David G. Hurrell, M.D., senior consulting cardiologist with the Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital to the expo for a special appearance. Dr. Hurrell will be on hand to help you understand the world of vitamins and supplements, and to offer advice on how to use these products, as well as other holistic therapies, to promote heart health.

Dr. Hurrell's ten heart-healthy tips worth remembering are:

1. Supplements aren't substitutes. "Recognize that vitamin and nutritional supplements are just that: supplements and not substitutes for well-researched, FDA-approved medications. Never substitute an established therapy or medication for a vitamin or nutritional supplement, which may have little proof of effectiveness. Also, nutritional supplements are no substitute for a well-balanced diet including fresh fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, don't be afraid to talk to your doctor about vitamins and nutritional supplements that may actually improve your wellness and complement the care you receive from your physician."
2. Vitamin E may not play a role in coronary heart disease. "Vitamin E is one of the more commonly consumed anti-oxidant supplements. It has been promoted as a way to prevent the formation of plaque within the heart arteries and to reduce the incidence of heart attacks. Unfortunately, recent large scale trials have muddied the waters. One such study is the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation study (HOPE) that examined 9,541 patients with heart disease or diabetes mellitus who received 400 IU of natural vitamin E for an average of 4-1/2 years. In this study there was no reduction in heart attack, stroke or death for the patients who took vitamin E compared to those who took a placebo."
3. Put more fish in your diet. " Fish contain polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly the omega-3, which is important in building healthy muscle cell membranes, and brain, nerve and eye tissue. A diet that does not include fish can actually contribute to obesity, adult onset diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart disease. If you don't like eating fish, you may consider taking supplemental gel caps containing 1000 mg of the omega-3 fatty acids DHEA and EPA."
4. Soy protein is good for the heart. "Foods rich in soy protein are becoming increasingly recognized as heart healthy in the role of cholesterol reduction, which decreases the risk of coronary heart disease. One of the easier ways to provide soy protein in your diet is by adding 25 grams of soy powder to a glass of dairy skim milk or soymilk. Make them a part of your heart healthy diet."
5. Increase your fiber intake. "The American Heart Association recommends that your diet include 25-30 grams of fiber - from within the foods that you eat - per day. Increasing your fiber intake is a natural way to promote lower cholesterol and a healthier diet."
6. Garlic may not have what it takes. "Garlic is one of the most commonly ingested herbal supplements. Its role in cardiovascular disease has mainly focused on reducing cholesterol levels, but it has also been suggested that garlic may play a role in lowering blood pressure and preventing plaque build-up in our body's arteries. Although numerous studies have supported garlic's benefits, others have suggested no effect. Perhaps as additional, larger studies are completed, its role in cardiovascular disease will be better understood."
7. Folic Acid, vitamin B6 and B12 may be right for you. "An elevated homocysteine level has been clearly linked to the formation of plaque within the heart arteries. Low folic acid levels have been associated with elevated homocysteine levels and an increased risk of heart attack. In affected individuals folic acid, taken along with vitamins B6 and B12, can reduce homocysteine levels. If your homocysteine level is elevated, supplementation may be appropriate for you. For effective treatment of elevated homocysteine, all three supplements are required."
8. Should I have a little wine with dinner? "No more than two 4-ounce glasses a day is a good rule. Dietary guidelines actually suggest no more than one drink a day for women, and no safe level has been established for pregnant women. Also, keep in mind that a 4-ounce glass of wine contains approximately 80 calories and thus even modest daily use can lead to gradual weight gain."
9. Coenzyme Q-10 may aid in lowering your blood pressure. "Coenzyme Q-10, or CoQ10, may play a role in controlling hypertension. As a result, traditional drug therapy for high blood pressure may be supplemented with CoQ10 in an effort to limit the number and dosage of medications required, but it should never be used on its own for this purpose, nor substituted for proven therapies."
10. Spread the Take Control and Benecol. "Both commercially-sold Take Control and Benecol are spreadable products, which are utilized in the diet similar to butter or margarine. Both contain canola oil, plant stanol esters and soybean oil as well as other ingredients which, in combination, actually lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol with no effect on HDL cholesterol.

"Some vitamins and nutritional supplements are backed by more research that supports their use in controlling specific heart-related conditions," says Dr. Hurrell. "As the desire to learn more about holistic health care continues, further research and education will follow. Become a savvy health care consumer and consult your physician as to the role vitamins and supplements might play in your individual heart healthy plan!"

The Body Mind Life Expo™ is the Midwest's largest health and natural products expo, featuring hundreds of cutting edge products and services, free informative seminars, and nonstop entertainment. Now in its fifth year, the expo is designed to help people explore their wellness options and re-energize their busy lives.

For more information on Dr. Hurrell's presentation, Your Body Repair Shop^SM or the Body Mind Life Expo™, visit www.101Expos.com or call the Expo hotline at 612-798-7256. The Body Mind Life Expo™ is sponsored by Your Body Repair Shop^SM, and KSTC Channel 45 TV.

Media note: To schedule an interview with Dr. Hurrell, or a Body Mind Life Expo™ spokesperson, please contact Media Relations, Inc. at 612-798-7220.

Dr. David G. Hurrell is a senior consulting cardiologist and director of nuclear cardiology at the Minneapolis Heart Institute within Abbott Northwestern Hospital. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota Department of Medicine. Dr. Hurrell earned his medical degree from Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minnesota and did his post-graduate training at Harvard Medical School and the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. He is a member of the American College of Cardiology, the American Medical Association and the Minnesota Medical Society. Dr. Hurrell's research has been published in numerous professional journals.